I'm a freelance writer who has published in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times and others, and the author of the Forbes ebook "The Millennial Game Plan: Career And Money Secrets To Succeed In Today’s World." I graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Honors from Stanford University and have a master of arts from Columbia University’s School of Journalism. To learn more about me, go to www.laurashin.com, or follow me at @laurashin.

The 13 Biggest Money Mistakes Retirees Make

On the surface, retiring seems to be about transitioning from the working grind to days of all leisure and no alarm clocks. But underneath, there’s another shift at play: ending the days of earning and beginning the days of spending.

The kind of spending we’re talking about is certainly not shopping with abandon. It’s actually a tricky balance of spending enough to enjoy what you’ve earned, while not depleting your savings in your lifetime.

Each retirement account is taxed differently. If you don’t strategically withdraw from each, you could pay more in taxes than you need to. “The rule of thumb is to take out your least-expensive assets first — assets that aren’t earning as much in growth or interest, or assets that are non-taxable,” says Pat Grenier of CFP BRP/Grenier Financial Services in Springfield, Mass.But this also doesn’t mean you withdraw from one type of account until that money is gone and then move to the next: “You should look at the combination — it’s like a puzzle. You might want to take a little from each,” says Grenier, referring to your 401(k), a traditional or Roth IRA, savings or other accounts.

What to do: Talk to a financial planner and your tax advisor. (Learn how to choose a financial advisor here.) Figure out your tax bracket and look at each bucket of money to determine the most efficient way to withdraw money given your specific circumstances.

“Most people start Social Security too early because it’s the fastest way for someone to increase their secure income,” says Scott Burns, chief investment strategist for Asset Builder, a low-cost Internet-based investment advisor. But, he says, “it’s worthwhile to reduce your conventional financial assets to defer taking Social Security.” This means spending down part of your nest egg first — as long as you have enough money saved.

This can pay off well for married couples. If the higher earner defers retirement, he or she in effect buys a life insurance policy for his or her spouse, because the survivor will get that benefit.

What to do: If you haven’t started taking Social Security yet, consider these factors, such as the assets you have, when you’ll stop working and your health, in your decision. If you already have, look into withdrawal. “Social Security retirement benefits, if initiated before your full retirement age, can be withdrawn within the first 12 months after filing for benefits,” says Chris vonLindenberg, certified financial planner and owner of Lindenberg Financial Inc, adding that any money received will have to be repaid. If you’ve already reached full retirement age, you can suspend benefits to receive delayed retirement credits. Both these options will increase your benefit, and the survivor’s.

3. Focusing on returns and not the real issue — how to turn retirement assets into income.

After spending so much time accumulating assets, it can be hard to switch mindsets in retirement. Many retirees still fixate on investment return, when they should instead look at turning their assets into predictable income. Those looking for more security will want to buy an annuity or bonds while those wanting to keep as much of their assets invested could follow some kind of withdrawal rule, such as 4% of assets a year. But if you go with the latter, be prepared to stick to it and have other savings to draw on if the market dips and that 4% is too small to cover your expenses — or to cut back your spending.

What to do: Talk with a financial planner or a retirement income certified professional (RICP) who will help you figure out your personal risk tolerance and need for income security and then guide you to the right vehicles for creating income.

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Laura, excellent tips. Good point on #8 on retirees being “house-rich but cash poor.” Many boomers that got burnt during the “great recession” are now paying down their mortgage ASAP – to provide “mental” and financial security in retirement. Folks get emotionally attached to their home – rather than looking at it as an investment (which they may have already refinanced into an ultra-low rate) and may not need to rush to pay off. My primary goal for our clients approaching retirement- is to have as much liquidity as possible with their net worth. Jon Ulin, CFP – Boca Raton